The advantage of a vehicle having legs is, simply put, the ability to trample and devastate at will.
Kicking open the rooftop door of the building we had crash-landed on, inside were many desks, suggesting it was some kind of company—still, pretty advanced for a holy city, huh?—and with the momentum of barging in, we followed the signs down the emergency exit stairs.
However, judging by signs of considerable aging, this building must be centuries old. It was most likely constructed during the early colonization period when large building 3D printers were still in use.
This leads me to believe that the deity in question must be among the crew of “Inanna 12.” Guess everyone’s on the same page.
Running down the emergency stairs to the street below, the scene was dire.
The crimson tide gushing from a flattened bus crushed by stray bullets, a child weeping beside rubble from collapsed debris stained with red, and an elderly person who must’ve broken a leg in a fall, left behind.
It was a living hell.
“Fucking lizards, look what you’ve done!”
“Nozomu, they are…”
“Unfortunately, we have no means to help them.”
Good deeds beyond one’s capacity are not deeds but recklessness—and worse, sentimentality.
Even if we devoted ourselves to rescue efforts here, we might save only a handful, but if we retrieve the “Holy Spear,” there may be a chance.
That said, considering the size of that beast, we might need to be prepared to use it at “overcharge” levels, knowing it might break—but it’s better than losing the treasure trove of information that is the Holy City.
“Let’s go. Selene, the others?”
“45 kilometers south from here—it’ll take about twenty-five minutes to converge.”
“Understood, let’s hurry.”
As I revved the Gear Crawler, Galatea hesitated slightly before following. She must understand as a soldier that nothing can be done until the enemy is defeated.
Still, why would dragons attack this place? They don’t seem to eat humans after attacking, nor are they rampaging aimlessly. The small dragons, while destructive, don’t actively target humans, reacting more to swift-moving objects—it’s unclear why they are attacking populated areas.
They don’t seem to coordinate well either. Just now, a dragon was grabbing and lifting a car, and another one interfered, grabbing the rear with its hind legs, creating a tug-of-war. The driver escaped while still close to the ground, but they ignored him entirely, continuing their squabble.
Their intellect is minimal, if any. What is their purpose here?
Jumping over the dead, injured, and wrecked vehicles—this is the advantage of a four-legged walker—we crossed two streets when the sound of engines approached from the neighboring district.
The Magius Geanaite atop its mount was wielding a mechanical bow known as the Holy Bow, and a shot grazed the pursuing dragon.
At the moment the smaller dragon expanded its throat to fire, I judged my timing and delivered three coilgun shots. At this close range, the power was sufficient, and its jaw was struck sharply upward, with flames licking the air above.
“We were saved! Whose command are you under!?”
As he rode alongside us and demanded identification, oh crap, I helped reflexively, but considering my heretic status, he might be my enemy.
“Ah…uh…”
“Galatea of the North Garden Knights Legion! Is that Faris!?”
“Galatea?! I heard you were dead!”
“No, I’m very much alive!”
“Why are you here!? The North Garden Knights are holding the dragons at bay outside the city!”
Faris’ words made Galatea momentarily speechless. She glared toward the direction where the dragons were rampaging.
“Don’t be absurd! The North Garden Knights specialize in high-mobility cavalry tactics! Used as distractions for dragons?”
“It’s Lord Virgil’s decision. He was recently appointed the acting commander…”
“Lord Virgil!? Preposterous!!”
“We don’t even know what’s happening either!”
That guy, for some reason he’s politically adept and climbed ranks, but using valuable troops just for political maneuvering? What’s he thinking, risking precious forces like that?
Against those giant dragons, light armor won’t achieve much. At best, it would be a mere nuisance—”Faris! You’re from the West Garden Knights, right? Why are you, experts in scouting, defending the urban area against dragons!?”
“Know what?! It’s an order!!”
“Sir Fontius!? Would he follow such orders!!”
“He’s… fallen in battle! The command structure is in shambles!!”
This is total chaos. Light cavalry used to stall air force, and scout cavalry building defense lines inside the city? The allocation is ridiculous beyond words. Is Virgil so tactless, or is he really exploiting this attack to eliminate political rivals? Either way, it’s far from ideal.
“We were heading to a temporary rendezvous point. If you’re lost, come along!”
“Eh, no, right now I’m…”
“It’s not the time to chat leisurely!! Behind us!!”
Turning my finger, the small dragon whose head I struck with mass-accelerated rounds earlier was now pursuing us, enraged by the blow.
“Break left and right! Fire is coming!!”
“Damn it!! Stay alive, Galatea!!”
“You too, Faris!!”
Recognizing the throat’s bulge as a signal for flame discharge, we sharply decelerated, scattering left and right into side alleys out of flame range.
The heat wave scorched our backs, and the cries of critically injured people trapped by debris from the main street could be heard.
“What were you doing against those things until now!?”
“We have anti-dragon large-caliber Holy Bows, but anti-armor combat is East Garden Knights’ specialty! Besides, who would’ve thought dragons would breach the sacred walls into the city?!”
Indeed, no one prepared for urban maneuvering while fighting air targets. That’s why the city roofs are devoid of anti-aircraft cannons despite battling flying enemies—makes sense now.
They probably hadn’t anticipated it. The Ecliptic Republican Union must’ve converted “Inanna 12” into urban architecture without considering mid-sized, flying tank-like creatures might attack. Hence, they mostly manufactured and distributed personal weapons for self-defense.
If they had deployed proper mobile weapons, at least heavy artillery or guided missiles, a lot fewer people would have died.
“Captain! The dragons are hot on our trail!”
“God-damn!”
We had two bait options, but the resentment’s target seems to be me. We can’t dodge at this rate on the Gear Crawler—and anyway, we’d be in trouble if they gain height—there’s no effective firepower to counter.
“Galatea, zig-zag through the side streets to block the flames!”
“I can handle this Gear Crawler! Follow me with all your power!”
Alright then, no holding back! I didn’t ascend over obstacles but, using brute strength and speed, cleared them with a leap in a triangle jump and turned the corner.
Galatea appeared momentarily surprised by this reckless move but adjusted immediately to keep up.
How does she manage such stunts on the Gear Crawler with nothing but a handle and a button interface? It’s probably beyond me if I were asked to do the same.
There must be some unknown thing at play, something not explained by current science—like how the light was activated without a power source.
Oh right, there’s the secondary brain, isn’t there? So maybe it’s wireless communication? But when I accessed it, there wasn’t much useful software installed, so how’s she doing this?
While fleeing amidst the noise of the high-order continuum of civilization’s prolonged norms, we were diverting further from Ridelberdy. If only a straight run on the main road was possible, it would’ve posed no problem.
“Captain, the predicted route has been transmitted to Ridelberdy’s group.”
“Great job!”
Right, I almost forgot amidst the chaos. This is still just a sub-unit of Selene’s main drone which is keeping tabs on Tech Gob’s location. Real-time positional updates are possible.
We should be able to converge with them somehow.
“…No, wait, even if we do, all we’ll do is add to the bait roster in our current state.”
“Nozum! Wings! The membrane is thin! East Garden Knights always aim there!”
“That’s right!”
Indeed, upon closer observation, despite being covered in scales and armor on certain areas like the jaw and abdomen, the wing membranes are see-through in the sunlight. Following aerodynamic principles might be a stretch, but they don’t seem to waste movement either.
And if they hunt while flying, they must be more cumbersome on the ground.
“Selene! Plan change! Is there a place suitable to align alongside Ridelberdy?”
“This would be good.”
As expected from my partner, she must’ve mapped the area overhead. Following the map projected onto my retina, if we descend seven blocks to the south and enter from the east, the timing should be perfect.
Alright then…
“Galatea, slowing down a bit!”
“Got it, we’re setting up a friendly fire barrage, right?”
“Correct!!”
My quick-thinking ally must’ve understood immediately, willing to cooperate in aggravating rather than evading the dragons.
In the next instant, firing a salvo at a dragon poking its nose through the alley, as expected, it retaliated, increasing its fury.
We can’t afford for them to lose interest and turn their aggression elsewhere. Helping protect the city even in a small measure is worthwhile.
If there’s no prospect of victory, we escape; if there is, we fight. I believe it’s not hypocrisy, but virtue.
Now, the coilguns equipped by my companions have nearly double the output of the current pea-shooters I carry. If a heavy crossbow could pierce it, tearing them apart shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Hey, Oni-san, this way!”
Taunting with my voice while diving under its body, the dragon predictably pursued in rage. We chose narrow, short alleys, running through where it couldn’t breathe fire or make physical contact.
“How much time until you’re ready to fire?”
“One minute thirty seconds… no, they said one and a half!!”
“Got it! Hand over the timing to Ridelberdy!”
It’s fortunate to have such a proficient team at hand. I looped around the alley, narrowly missing its breath as I continued the game of cat and mouse.
Intentionally slowing down to entice it, I zig-zagged wildly, causing it to snap its jaws repeatedly into thin air.
The agonizing wait passed, and the destination was near.
“Alright, goal!”
Just as expected, the dragon, lured into the designated execution area, lost control, its wings shredded.
All went according to plan, however, I had forgotten something important.
The law of inertia.
The dragon, deprived of flight, rolled uncontrollably, kicking up debris with irregular motions.
While I could dodge with reflexes, it seemed Galatea couldn’t manage it.
“Aah?! Wha-…kyaa…!”
Her Gear Crawler swerved under the impact of the flying fragments threatening to be crushed.
Damn, she’s going to get squashed if this continues.
I immediately applied emergency brakes and leaped, grabbing Galatea by the collar just as she was about to plummet.
However, next came an enormous impact to my neck.
The rolling dragon wildly flailed its limbs, narrowly missing me with its fangs.
How close?
So close to where my head had been an instant ago.
Absurdly staring at my own body, a window popped up before me.
And then my consciousness faded into the dark abyss…
【Planetary Exploration Notes】 The Garden Knights. A standing military force founded by Magius Geanaite, comprised solely of elite knights. The Holy City, as described in the holy texts, is named God’s Garden, with the knights simultaneously acting as both gardeners and guards, devoted to its defense.
The roles vary among the divisions: the North and East Garden Knights focus on high-mobility external expeditions, whereas the West and South Garden Knights excel in urban defense with heavily armored units and high firepower.
Next update will be around 19:00.
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